Comparative analysis of the genes UL1 through UL7 of the duck enteritis virus and other herpesviruses of the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae

The nucleotide sequences of eight open reading frames (ORFs) located at the 5' end of the unique long region of the duck enteritis virus (DEV) Clone-03 strain were determined. The genes identified were designated UL1, UL2, UL3, UL4, UL5, UL6 and UL7 homologues of the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). The DEV UL3.5 located between UL3 and UL4 had no homologue in the HSV-1. The arrangement and transcription orientation of the eight genes were collinear with their homologues in the HSV-1. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on the alignments of the deduced amino acids of eight proteins with their homologues in 12 alpha-herpesviruses. In the UL1, UL3, UL3.5, UL5 and UL7 proteins trees, the branches were more closely related to the genus Mardivirus. However, the UL2, UL4, and UL6 proteins phylogenetic trees indicated a large distance from Mardivirus, indicating that the DEV evolved differently from other viruses in the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae and formed a single branch within this subfamily

Investigations into the seroprevalence of antibodies against avian paramyxovirus serotype 1, 2 and 3 in the sera of free-living red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) in southern Spain

[EN]The red-legged partridge(Alectoris rufa) is one of the most important small gamebirds in southern and central Spain, where game production accounts for a great part of the income of the region. For this reason, the management of partridge populations in the hunting areas has increased in the past years, and a growing number of captive breeding centres has been established. The present study investigates the prevalence of antibodies against avian paramyxovirus (aPMV) -1, -2 and -3 in the sera of 65 red-legged partridges shot in different hunting areas in the south of Spain (Andalusia), in order to collect information on the prevalence of these pathogens among free-living partridges, with a view to the future use of vaccines against Newcastle disease in captive populations. All analysed sera were negative for antibodies against aPMV-1, while one bird tested positive against aPMV-2 and another two birds against aPMV-3. The results for aPMV-2 and 3 reflect the prevalence of these viruses among free-living birds in southern Spain, as reported by other authors. The absence of antibodies against aPMV-1 among the investigated partridges supports the view that vaccination programs against Newcastle disease would not be justified.[GER] Eine der wichtigsten Niederwildarten in Süd- und Zentralspanien ist das Rothuhn(Alectoris rufa), das in diesen Gebieten eine große wirtschaftliche Bedeutung besitzt. Aus diesem Grunde hat sich in den vergangenen Jahren die Bewirtschaftung der Rothuhnbestände intensiviert und die Zahl der Zuchtbestände vervielfacht. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht 65 Seren von erlegten Rothühnern aus Andalusien auf die Präsenz von Antikörpern gegen aviäres Paramyxovirus (aPMV) -1, -2 und -3, mit dem Ziel, Aufschluss über die Durchseuchung der Wildpopulationen und über den möglichen Nutzen der Einführung von Impfprogrammen gegen die Newcastle-Krankheit bei Zuchtstämmen zu geben. Während bei keinem der untersuchten Tiere Antikörper gegen aPMV-1 gefunden wurden, wiesen jeweils ein Rothuhn einen niedrigen Antikörpertiter gegen aPMV-2 und zwei weitere Rothühner gegen aPMV-3 auf. Dies spiegelt die in einer anderen Studie über Wildvögel Südspaniens ermittelten Durchseuchungsraten für aPMV-2 und -3 wider. Auf der Basis des negativen Ergebnisses für aPMV-1 scheint die Einführung von Impfprogrammen gegen die Newcastle-Krankheit bei Rothühnern nicht gerechtfertigt zu sein.Peer reviewe

Investigations into the seroprevalence of antibodies against avian paramyxovirus serotype l, 2 and 3 in the sera of free-living red-legged partridges (Alectoris ruf a) in southern Spain

The red-legged partridge (Alectoris rafa) is one of the most important small gamebirds in southern and central Spain, where game production accounts for a great part of the income of the region. For this reason, the management of partridge populations in the hunting areas has increased in the past years, and a growing number of captive breeding centres has been established. The present study investigates the prevalence of antibodies against avian paramyxovirus (aPMV) -1, -2 and -3 in the sera of 65 red-legged partridges shot in different hunting areas in the south of Spain (Andalusia), in order to collect information on the prevalence of these pathogens among free-living partridges, with a view to the future use of vaccines against Newcastle disease in captive populations. All analysed sera were negative for antibodies against aPMV-1, while one bird tested positive against aPMV-2 and another two birds against aPMV-3. The results for aPMV-2 and 3 reflect the prevalence of these viruses among free-living birds in southern Spain, as reported by other authors. The absence of antibodies against aPMV-1 among the investigated partridges supports the view that vaccination programs against Newcastle disease would not be justified. © 2001, Blackwell Wissenschafts-Verlag.Peer Reviewe

An outbreak of Pacheco's parrot disease in psittacine birds recently imported to Campania, Italy : isolation of psittacid herpesvirus 2

The authors describe an outbreak of Pacheco's Parrot Disease (PPD) which occurred in Italy in recently imported psittacine birds and was caused by Psittacid Herpesvirus type 2 (PsiHV2). The authors stress the different susceptibility to the disease in the species involved. This outbreak showed the failure of the vaccine prophylaxis that had been administered to the birds with ordinary commercial preparations containing Psittacid Herpesvirus type 1. The authors emphasize the necessity of producing a vaccine containing inactivated viruses of all known serotypes

Chlamydial infections in feral pigeons in Europe: review of data and focus on public health implications

Feral pigeons (Columba livia domestica), which thrive in most European towns and cities, are commonly infected with the zoonotic bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci, the agent of psittacosis (also known as ornithosis) in humans. A number of surveys carried out over the last thirty years across Europe have detected high seropositivity values and high percentages of infection in feral pigeon populations. Overall, when considering data from 11 European countries, seropositivity values to C. psittaci in the sampled populations ranged from 19.4% to 95.6%. In most surveys, the complement fixation test was used, and antibodies were detected in 19.4\u201366.3% of the samples, with a median of 46.1%. Indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA tests were employed less frequently, but led to the detection of higher percentages of seropositivity (23.7\u201367.7% and 35.9\u201395.6%, respectively). Attempts to grow C. psittaci in cell culture or embryonated chicken eggs were successful in 2\u201342.3% and 0\u201357.1% of samples, respectively, antigen detection methods were positive in 2.3\u201340% of samples, while conventional PCR and real-time PCR using different genomic targets detected the organism in 3.4\u201350% of samples. Twenty-five C. psittaci isolates from pigeons were typed as ompA genotype B (n = 14), E (n = 10) and E/B (n = 1). The huge increase of feral pigeon populations in Europe is a major cause of concern for the detrimental effect of pigeon droppings on environmental hygiene, in addition to the extensive damage due to the fouling of buildings and monuments. The most important pathogenic organism transmissible from feral pigeons to humans is C. psittaci, with 101 cases of disease reported in the literature. Exposure to C. psittaci-contaminated dust, direct contact with pigeons through handling and, to a lesser extent, through pigeon feeding have been identified as hazardous exposures in more than half of the human cases, while loose or transient contacts with feral pigeons have been mentioned in about 40% of the cases